Bekjennelser

Bekjennelser is the Norwegian term for confessions in a religious context. In broad usage it denotes formal statements of faith produced by churches or theologians to summarize, defend, and regulate what a group believes. The word derives from bekjenne, “to confess.” In everyday Norwegian, bekjennelser typically refers to Christian confessional documents, though the concept can apply more generally to any explicit declaration of belief.

Historically, bekjennelser emerged and were refined during the Reformation as different Christian traditions sought to articulate their doctrinal positions, distinguish themselves from rivals, and provide standards for teaching, ordination, and membership. They function as both theological summaries and boundary markers, guiding worship, discipline, and ecumenical dialogue.

Well-known bekjennelser span Lutheran, Reformed, and Anglican traditions. Examples include the Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530) and its Apology (1531); the Smalcald Articles (1537); the Tetrapolitan Confession (1530); the Helvetic Confessions (1536 and 1566); the Belgic Confession (1561); the Scots Confession (1560); the Heidelberg Catechism (1563); the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646); and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (ca. 1563) in the English Reformation. In some traditions the Second Helvetic Confession (1566) and other catechetical works are also regarded as central confessional documents.

Today bekjennelser are studied as historical sources and as theological touchstones. They may be treated as authoritative standards within certain churches or as historical artefacts illustrating how Christian communities defined doctrine and identity at specific moments in history.